Ski accessory



Oct. ll, 1960 s. HEDLUND ErAL SKI ACCESSORY md Aug. 28, 195e IN V EN TOR5 2,955,300- sKI ACCESSORY Swan Hedlund, Box 152, and Glenn L. Reed, 301 W. South, both of Nokomis, Ill.

Filed Aug. 2s, 1956, ser. N6. 606,768

Claims. (ci. 9s10) operation which is not possible with the usual ski.

` An object of this invention is the provision of a swivel mount for the ski harness.

A further object of this invention is the provision ofV means whereby a performer may turn through an angle of 180 while riding on a ski.

` An additional object of this invention is the provision of4 means` permitting one to ride forward, backward, orat any angle relative to the direction of motion of the ski without' any change in the ski harness and without changing the direction the ski is travelling.

An object of this invention is to provide a water ski with a swivel mount which enables thevuser to gain more enjoyment and thrill from the sport of water skiing by being able to vary the maneuvers which are executed during the ski ride.

These and other objects will appearin the following 'specification taken with the accompanying drawing which forms a part' thereof, and wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several iigures.

In the drawings:

\ Fig.V l is a plan view of the ski accessory of this invention,'showing a portion of a ski and showing in `dot-dash lines several positions of the swivel mount;

Fig-2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows;-

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 180 between the ski harness plate 14 and the base ski y harness 16.

Approximately at the center of the base plate 16 there is an upwardly pressed (Fig. 2)l countersunk portion 22 having an `opening 24 therethrough. In the approximate center of the ski harness plate 14 there is a similar,

-V downwardly pressed, countersunk portion 26 having an opening 28 axially aligned with the opening 24 in the base plate 16. The countersunk portions 22 and 26 each `define an annular shoulder 30 which .axially aligns a thrust bearing element 32 with a swivel bearing element 34. The thrust bearing element 32 is in the form of au annulus and is positioned between the base plate 16 and the ski harness plate 14 and is radially spaced outwardly United States Patent() `3---3 of Fig.r1, looking in the direction of the arrows,

fromV the annular shoulders 30 in order to retain the Y thrust bearing element 32 may be formed of a suitable resin impregnated fabric or reinforced plastic and we have found that a phenolic resin is entirely satisfactory. It is to be understood that other suitable material such as graphite impregnated bronze or other metals may be used for the bearing elements.

The swivel bearing element 34 comprises a tubular body portion 36 and an enlarged head portion 38. The body portion 36 is internally threaded, as at 40, to receive the external threads 42 of a screw, or the like, 44. The head portion 38 of the swivel bearing element 34 is provided with means, not shown, which enables the screw 44 and swivel bearing element 34 to be locked together -to prevent relative movement therebetween during use of the accessory. It is believed that such provision to prevent loosening of threaded members is well known and need not be described herein since such means forms no part of this invention.

The screw 44 is provided with an enlarged head portion 46 which engages a countersunk washer 48 disposed between the headed portion 46 and the countersunk portion 26 of the ski harness plate 14.

In assembled relation, note` Fig. 2, the headed portion 46 of the screw 44 and the countersunk washer 48 are positioned within the confines of the recessed countersunk portion 26 of the harness plate 14 with the flat surface 50 of the headed portion 46 being flush with the smoothupper surface of the ski harness plate 14. The head portion 38 of the swivel bearing element 34 is positioned within the confines of the recessed countersunk portion 22 of the base plate 16 with the flat surface 52 ush with the smooth lower surface of the base plate 16. It should be noted that the peripheral surface of the tubular body portion 36 engages the annular surfaces of both openings 24 and 28.

From the above it is believed that it will be readily understood that the plate 14 is freely relatively rotatable` about the longitudinal axis of the swivel bearing element 34 with the load being carried by the radially outwardly positioned thrust bearing element 32.

In order to limit the relative rotation of the plate 14 to a desired degree, such as 180, there is provided stop means which includes a revolving rectangular prismatic block 54 Asecured by screws, or the like, 56 to the under surface of the ski harness plate 14 and the block 54 is centered along the longitudinal axis thereof and revolves or rotates relative to the ski 10, as shown by the double arrows in Fig. 1. Y

The stop Imeans fur-ther inclu-des relatively stationary forward and rear rectangular prismatic blocks 58 and 60, respectively, which are secured to the upper surface of the base plate 16 by means of screws, or the like, 62. The blocks 5S and 6) are both positioned on a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal aX-is of the base plate 16 and outwardly offset therefrom on the same side of the longitudinal axis of the plate 1'6, the distance of offset being substantially equal to the thickness of the blocks. The blocks 58 and 69 are each relatively stationery in relation to the ski 10. As a matter of simplicity the revolving block S4 and the stationary blocks 58 and 60 may be identical in construction.

The operation of the swivel mount 12 should be apparent, but will be outlined briey. The swivel mount 12 is assembled -as illustrated in Fig. 4, and as shown in Fig. 1, and is attached to a skiV by fastening the base plate 16 to the ski 10 by using suitable fastening means 64 in. the ,longitudinally spaced openings, 66. `Asuit- 3;. able ski harness 68, illustrated by dot-dash lines in Fig. l, is attached to the ski harness plate 14 by using suitable fastening means 70 in the openings 72.

The forward position of the. swivel mount 12 is shown in Fig. l by the immediate adjacency ofthe stationary forward block 58 with the revolving block, 54. The dotdash outline 74 shows the ski harness plate 14 partly revolved. or turned and the dot-dash outline 76 shows further revolving or turning thereof with respect to the base plate 16. The complete 180 turn is shown by the immediate adjacency of the stationary rear block 60 and the revolving block 54 in Fig. l.

During the initial portion of a ride or in commencing the ride the foot of the user. will be placed i'nto the. liarness or binder 68 which is secured to the swivel mount 12, and in using the swivelmount. 12. and ski lil, as illustrated in Fig. i of the drawing, the right foot of the user 'will be placedinto the harness or binder `6? so that the user will be originally facing in the direction generally indicated by the arrow A, which is Aalso the direction which thev ski lit will normally travel. The left foot of the user will be placed to the rear or behind the right foot in direct contact with the ski 10. In this manner the user has complete control over the direction of travel of the ski lo and the user may direct the movement of the. skiinto any desired path or direction.

The force which pulls the ski 10 through the water andthe weight of the user will cause the ski to normally ride through the water with the forward portion, left in. Fig. l, higher than the rear thereof, right in Fig. l, In other words, the ski 10 will normally be disposed in an inclined plane when passing or riding through the water, under tow, with the 4forward portion of the ski 10 being higher than the rear portion thereof.

When the user desires to perform some type of stunt, such as abackward swan, the user directs the ski 10 into the path of travel A that will enable the user to take advantage. of the force normally created by the water which isl acting on the ski 10.

In the example mentioned above, it will be necessary for the user to be able to control the direction `of travel of the ski with only the right foot since the left foot will be used in securing the user to the tow line.

At this time, the user tilts or inclines the ski 10 so `that thev outer or right edge portion, upper edge portion invFig. il, is below the inner or left edge portion thereof, lower edge portion in Fig. l. This action is accomplished by movement of the right ankle of the user and if necessary a shift of the left foot to the outer or right edge portionof the ski I0. The ski 10, as illustrated in Fig. l, while moving in the general direction of the arrow A, will then be disposed in a plane which lis tilted to the horizontaLwiththe forward portion (left in Fig. l) being higher than the rear portion and the outer edge portion (upper edge in Fig. l) being lower than the inner edge portion thereof. In this position the user may takev advantage of the forces normally created by the water through which the ski 10 is riding or traveling to control the ski with only the right foot.

It isto be remembered that during the initial portion or at the start of the ride the user is facing in the same generaldirection to that of the ski 10 and that the revolving block 54 is in engagement with the forward stationary block 5S and that, as necessary the, user maintains pressure to the left, down in Fig. l, to control the direction ofltravel of the ski. The pressure so exerted to the left by the user opposes the pressure ofthe water which, due to the disposition of the ski It) in the tilted plane, described above, is in effect to the right, up in Fig. l, rela tive to the direction of travel A.

In this condition, if the user desires to'change the direction of travel so that the ski will go to the right, up -in Fig. 1, it isonly necessary -for the user to decrease the amount of force which is being urged through the blocks-54-58fso that the-amountof forcefrom the=water is greater'. When it is desired to move the ski 10 in a direction which is to the left, down in Fig. l, it is only necessary for the user to increase the amount of force through the blocks 54-58 to the left and overcome the force created by the water. In this manner the right foot of the user may control the ski 10 when the user is facing in the direction of travel A with the direction of travel being dependent upon the amount of force which the user exertslagainst the stationary forward block S8 relative to the amount of force being normally exerted against the ski I0 by the water. After the ski 10 has been placed in a stabilized direction of travel with the forces acting on the ski through the Water and the engaged blocks 54-58- being. substantially equal and generally opposed', if the user desires to turn the ski 10 to the left it is only necessary to increase the force on the engaged blocks 54E-S8 and if it is desired to turn the ski 19 to the right it is only necessary to decrease the force thereon.

When the user is facing backwards (to theright of Fig. l) or in the direction which is opposite to the direction indicated by the arrow A, the revolving block 54 is in engagement with the rear stationary block y60'. It is to be noted that in either extreme position, i.e. when the skiv harness plate 14 is rotated 180 relative to the ski y10 that the revolving block 54 engages each of the stationary blocks 58-60, respectively, from the same side so that the forces which the user may exert through the blocks 54--58 in the forward facing position are in a common direction, down in Fig. 1, and in each instance these forces are opposed to the force normally created by the water which is acting generally upward in. Fig. 1.

When the user is in the rearward facing position, if the user desires the ski 1-0 to travel to the right it is only necessary for the user to increase the force between the blocks 54-60 by urging the block 54 to the' users right (left relative to the travel of the ski 10). If the user desires the ski to travel to the left it is only necessary for. the user to decrease the force acting throughthe blocks 54-60.

In `this manner only the right foot of the vuser completely controls the direction in which the ski 10 will travel nomatter whether the user is facing in a directionv which is common to the direction which the ski 10 is. traveling or whether the user is facing in the direction which is opposed to the direction of ski travel. After the user has stabilized the direction of travel of the ski, the force which is created by the water through which the ski travels will continue to be exerted in the same general direction along the entire length of the ski (upwardly in Fig. 1) and any increase or decrease of the forces which act through the blocks 54-58 and 54-60, respectively will result in a change in the directionof ski travel. In operation, when the user is facing in the same direction that the ski is traveling, the user maintains a slight pressure to the left relative to the direction of ski travel and when the user is facing in the opposite direction suchfforce will be maintained in the same direction, i.e., to the left relative to the travel of the ski. However, it is to be noted that thedirection of su-ch force is to the uscrs left when the user is facing forward and to the users right when facing rearward on theY ski illustrated in Fig. l.

This arrangement 4adds zest to the sport of skiing since it permits a skier to turn from any position between forward face and rearward face,.with respect to the direction of motion of the ski, as indicated by the arrow A in Fig. l, without having to change the direction in which the ski 1t) is travelling. Many unusual stunts are possible which cannot be performed with the usual ski harness arrangement.

The successful manipulation and use of ski equipped 'with our accessory depends exclusively upon the ability 75,A

andv experienceof the user. Great skillandconsiderable experience are usually required in order to properly manipulate a ski having our accessory mounted thereon.

Having described a preferred form of our invention, it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the skill of the art and the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A ski accessory comprising a rst member for attachment to a ski, a second member 'adapted to have a binder secured thereto, each of said members having an opening therein, swivel connecting means connecting said members together for relative rotational movement therebetween, said connecting means including an elongated swivel bearing element and an annular thrust bearing element, said thrust bearing element being disposed intermediate the members in spaced relationship to the swivel bearing element, said swivel bearing element including: a tubular portion having an enlarged head portion at one end thereof, said tubular portion extending through the opening in one of said plate members with the other end thereof terminating in the opening of the other plate member and in engagement therewith, securing means passing through the opening in the other plate member, said securing means having a portion thereof secured to the`tubular portion of the swivel bearing element, and stop means for limiting the rotational movement of said members to a desired amount.

2. The ski accessory as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said plate members has a countersunk portion surrounding the respective opening, said head portion of the swivel bearing ele-ment being positioned within the countersunk portion of said one plate member and said securing means has an enlarged portion positioned within the countersunk portion of said other plate member.

3. A ski accessory comprising a `first plate for attachment to a ski, a second plate adapted to have a harness mounted thereon, each of said plates having tan opening therein, said openings being axially aligned, each of said plates further having a countersunk portion surrounding the respective opening, swivel connecting means connecting said pla-tes together for relative rotational movement therebetween, said swivel connecting means including a swivel bearing element comprising a tubular portion having an enlarged head portion at one end thereof, said head portion being positioned within the counter` sunk portion of one plate with the tubular portion extending through the respective opening therein with the other end of the tubular portion terminating within the opening in the other plate and in engagement therewith, an annular thrust bearing element disposed intermediate the plates in radially outwardly space relationship to said tubular portion, securing means engaging the tubular portion of the swivel bearing element, said securing means having an enlarged por-tion positioned within the countersunk portion of the other plate and a depending portion passing through the opening in the other plate, said depending portion being secured to said tubular portion of the swivel bearing element, and stop means for limiting the rotational movement of said members to a desired amount.

4. The structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein said depending portion of said securing means and said tubular portion of said swivel bearing element are threadably secured together.

5. A ski accessory comprising a member adapted -to be connected to a ski, a member adapted to have a harness secured thereto, swivel connecting means connecting said members together for relative rotational movement therebetween, and means for limiting the relative rotational movement of said members to 1a desired amount, said means comprising stop means on one of said members, stop means for engaging the tirst mentioned stop means to limit the relative rotational movement between the members, whereby the facing direction of a skier while using a ski having the ski accessory secured thereto may be changed relative to the direction in which such ski travels.

i6. The structure in accordance with claim 5, wherein said desired amount is 7. A ski accessory comprising a first member adapted to be connected to la ski, a second member adapted to have a harness secured thereto, swivel connecting means connecting said members together for relative rotational movement therebetween, and stop means for limiting the relative rotational movement of said members to a desired amount, said stop means comprising a block on said second member, a plurality of longitudinally spaced blocks for engaging the first mentioned block, said blocks being positioned to limit the relative rotational movement betwen the members, whereby the facing `direction of a skier while using a ski having the ski accessory secured thereto may be changed relative to the direction in which such ski travels.

8. The structure in accordance with claim 7 wherein said first mentioned block is positioned on the longitudinal axis of the second member and said longitudinally spaced blocks are each centered on a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said second member and laterally oset therefrom a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the blocks.

9. The structure in accordance with claim 7, wherein said rst mentioned block is relatively rotational and said longitudinally spaced blocks are relatively stationary.

10. A ski accessory comprising a iirst plate member for attachment to a ski, a second plate member for attachment to a foot binder, swivel connecting means connecting said plate members together to enable rotational movement of said second plate member and stop means for limiting the rotational movement of the second plate member, said stop means comprising a block on said first plate member land a plurality of blocks on said second plate member, said block being positioned on the longitudinal axis of said rst plate member and said plurality of blocks being positioned along a line substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the -rst plate member and laterally oifset therefrom, each of said blocks being substantially equally spaced from the swivel connecting means with the blocks on said second plate member being to opposite sides of the swivel connecting means, whereby the facing direction of a skier may be changed relative to the direction of travel of a ski having the first plate member attached thereto.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,740,972 Taylor Apr. l0, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 943,400 France Mar. 7, 1949 

